Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

Lew, I use a Resomat and prefer it to direct coupling on my L07D and VPI TNT. However, the Resomat can sound a bit light and tizzy without a clamp or record weight to bring the LP into full engagement with the two full circles of vinyl cones on the mat that mate with the record lead-in and run-out sections. Too much weight or pressure becomes counter-productive, cupping the LP away from the outer circle of cones. To prevent cupping I stack rubber washers on the spindle above and below the Resomat. When the record weight is applied the perimeter cups down.

All of this may seem like too much trouble, but it's really no big deal.

Lew, re: elevated LPs?

This seems to be popular in Great Britain, I believe the source of the Ringmat. And that company may or may not have produced an earlier version utilizing a number of cork dots (smaller than a quarter) to suspend the record.

Also, B&O made at least one table with radial plastic supports on the platter to suspend the LP.

So I must ask, as I have with other "out of the box" ideas, if it was truly successful would not nearly all manufactures have adopted something similar by now?

Lewm - Is there anyone here who adheres to the notion of elevating the LP in space....

Lewm - My tonearm and platter are already "in space"
I also preferred my records firmly grounded in between. Later in personal conversations with Verdier (prior to his recent passing-RIP) he confirmed to me that his TT was designed to be used with no mat.

Halcro
I've also got a glass mat on its way from Japan.
Apparently Victor produced one for their turntables and get this.....the instructions say that the pigskin mat is designed to go UNDER the glass mat...
This would never have occurred to me...
Of course I'll try it both ways....but I wonder if you've tried a suede mat UNDER your Achromat..
Worth a try....those Victor engineers knew their 'onions'....

I have heard of "pheasant under glass" but never pig. Analog can be so much fun......

Dave, How much does the Resomat weigh, in comparison to the stainless steel platter sheet on the L07D? One of my reasons for not experimenting with the L07D, besides the fact that I adore its sound already, is the fact that the mass of the platter sheet is figured into its servo design. If I were to sub out the platter sheet, I'd look for something of very similar mass.

03-16-15: Banquo363
One thing for certain is I don't know the first thing about motor oils. Here is what is available from Redline (from their website) as far as their race oils go:

20WT Race Oil (5W20)
30WT Race Oil (10W30)
40WT Race Oil (15W40)
50WT Race Oil (15W50)

And here is what RP offers in their XPR line (the line Doron recmmended to me):

XPR 3.1 0W-5
XPR 0W-10
XPR 5W-20
XPR 5W-30
XPR 10W-40
XPR 20W-50

@ the Redline, RP guys on this thread (Banquo, Doron, Lewm, others...)

Re: the bearing well lubricant discussions...

Recently read the synthetic fluid postings here. Found it ironic as my son just bought a used sports car and sent me a bunch of url's to review. they discuss RP and RL as well.

like this one

ok, nothing to do with this thread, but the similarities are striking. These guys changing out mineral fluids for synthetic in the gearboxes; sort of like you guys with the thrust pad wells ? Anyway you guys reminded me of them.

For SP10MKII owners with worn out thrust pad wells.

You can get some here

Happy listening